After a few false starts I'm finally (just about) ready to enter the military diorama market. Hydrocal kits in 1/35 & 1/48. They'll feature laser cut wood windows, full color signs and a few other goodies you don't always see in these types of kits. While I currently manufacture a line of structure kits for the model railroad market these would be a whole new ball game. New masters and I'll market them under a different name. Here's a shot of my progress so far. This is 1/35 Scale.



If there is any thing in particular you'd like us to cover I'm open to suggestions. Thanks much.

Randy Pepprock
Downtown Deco (Berlin 45)

This is looking real good, Randy. Are you working on some smaller ones, and will they feature side walls? And any bases in the works? Please keep us informed with further developments

Thanks. This building will have two sides. Most will have two or three. Yes, I'll do some smaller pieces as well but I think I'd mainly like to carve out a niche doing larger pieces. They won't be for everyone but for those that want to do the type of large dioramas that you don't see every day they'll fit the bill.

Randy Pepprock
Berlin 45

As a model railroader, ive seen your stuff and its fantastic. Ive been eyeing your HO Falburg station for my eventual HOn3 layout. Its great to see you get into the millitary side of things.

one bit to think about.... see if you can make castings with both front AND back detail. Unlike full buildings used on model railroad layouts, most military dios feature distroyed buildings with full few of the insides. Just a thought.

hope you will provide some samples for review, as that would help get the word out.
Andy

Andy,

Thanks much. Detail on both sides gets tough because of the casting process. I wish there was a (practical) way to do it in hydrocal. Will explore options. Question. Once I get these up & running I'd like to do some advertising. Who do I talk to about running some ads on this site? Also, what are the major distributors for these types of kits in the military market. I use Walthers for my train stuff but I'm not really sure where to turn with this line. Cheers.

Randy

Another building. this one is about 50% done. disregard giant hand & shiny tank in photo. : ).



Randy

Berlin 45

Randy, for advertising you can start Here, or contact Jim Starkweather.

Randy,
It looks nice, but my problem is that's it's too tall for anything I would build. I know there are those who do dioramas with tall buildings. What about doing a base with a stone bridge crossing a creek/river (most of the one's I see are of blown bridges) or a railroad overpass with a cut through under it ( sort of like the one in the movie "Battleground" where Van Johnson almost bugs out).
Just my two cents. Good luck
Eric

Hey don't forget to make this stuff affordable too!

And some 1/48 background type stuff. Wall sections maybe 8-9" long by 3 1/2 - 4" high that I could use in my small settings.

Soooooo, how's it going?

Still on the patterns I have the masters done for 6 1/35th kits. I'm going to try something new to reduce the parts to 1/48th then. Stay tuned!

Randy
Berlin 45

Have you thought about selling the pieces as modules so that the modeler can decide how tall he wants to the building to be?

they look great

Update 9/22. I got back from the Narrow Gauge Convention a week or so ago & finally got the molds made. 13 pounds of rubber later I'm just about set. The "test shots" in hydrocal came out great, next I have to get the laser cut windows/doors done & build up some samples for the box cover art.

I'll market these on eBay & through my site, but what I'd really like is to pick up 2 or 3 distributors to handle the line. Any fellow mfgs. out there that could get me pointed in the right direction? I've been in the RR market for almost 15 years but this is my first attempt at breaking into the military dio market. Cheers.

Randy Pepprock
Berlin45